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Manriquez’s blast makes the difference

After keeping the Newark Bears off the scoreboard for the first six innings, starting pitcher Kip Bouknight ran into trouble in the seventh and paid for it when Salomon Manriquez cranked a three-run home run to center field as the Patriots lost 3-2 at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

Bouknight and Patriots acting manager Brett Jodie argued that the ball had to clear the tall center-field wall — not just bang off it — to be a home run but the umpires huddled but did not agree.

The Patriots’ offense struggled against three former major-league pitchers. Shawn Chacon went seven innings for the win with Keith Foulke setting up the save for Armando Benitez. An inability to move runners over led to several squandered scoring opportunities.

About Ryan Dunleavy

Ryan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.